Youth Employment Trends

How Many Youths Work?

During the 1996–1998 period, 2.9 million youths age 15 to 17
worked during school months, and 4.0 million worked during the summer
months.

Among youths, employment increased markedly with age. During the school
months of 1996–1998, only 9% of 15-year-olds were employed in an
average month, compared with 26% of those a year older and 39% of
17-year-olds. Youths in each age group were more likely to work in the
summer, during which employment rates increased to 18%, 36%, and 48% at
each age, respectively.

Despite popular perceptions that youths work more than they did in the
past, the proportion of 15- to 17-year-olds who work has declined over
time. Employment-population ratios declined with economic downturns in the
early 1980s and 1990s. After the decline in the early 1990s, however, the
rates did not return to earlier levels. During the 1996–1998 period,
a quarter of youths worked during the school months, down from 30% in
1977–1979. Just over a third worked during the summer, down from 43%
during the late 1970s.

How Much Do Youths Earn?

The minimum wage often is associated with young workers first entering
the labor force. CPS data indicate that earnings were above the minimum
wage for most youths, with hourly earnings in the school and summer months
about the same. The minimum wage was $5.15 in 1998.

In 1998, median earnings of 15- to 17-year-olds combined were $5.57 per
hour. In 1998, the earnings increased with age: 15-year-olds earned a
median of $5.38 per hour, 16-year-olds earned $5.52, and 17-year-olds
earned $5.65 per hour. Earnings varied slightly across sex and race
groups. Hispanic and white males had the highest median hourly earnings;
Hispanic and black females had the lowest.

Where Do Youths Work?

About 62% of youths age 15 to 17 employed during the school months of
the 1996–1998 period worked in retail trade, more than in any other
major industry. Within retail trade, eating and drinking places accounted
for the greatest share of employed youths, about one-third of all employed
15- to 17-year-olds. Another 1 in 4 youths was employed in service
industries. In the summer, youth employment was less concentrated in
retail trade and youths were employed in a wider variety of industries
than during the school months. Retail trade still accounted for about
half, services increased to 30%, and employment in agriculture and
goods-producing industries (mining, construction, and manufacturing)
increased. This seasonal pattern of employment also was present in earlier
periods.

Percent of U.S. Population Age
15–17 Employed, 1977–1998

School months

Summer months

Characteristic

1977–1979

1987–1989

1996–1998

1977–1979

1987–1989

1996–1998

Total, 15 to 17 years

29.8%

27.6%

24.7%

42.6%

39.6%

33.8%

Sex:

Male

31.4

27.4

24.3

47.7

41.8

34.3

Female

28.1

27.9

25.2

37.4

37.4

33.3

Age:

15 years old

17.3

13.7

9.4

29.9

24.5

17.7

16 years old

29.5

27.7

25.8

43.2

41.4

36.0

17 years old

2.6

40.4

39.0

54.5

51.9

47.8

Race/ethnicity:

White, 15 to 17 years

33.2

30.9

27.8

46.1

43.3

37.6

Male

34.8

30.5

27.3

51.2

45.3

38.1

Female

31.5

31.2

28.4

40.8

41.3

37.0

Black, 15 to 17 years

10.7

12.9

12.8

22.8

23.8

20.1

Male

12.3

13.4

12.0

27.4

27.2

20.0

Female

9.2

12.4

13.7

18.2

20.3

20.2

Hispanic origin, 15 to 17
years

19.8

17.1

14.6

30.4

24.2

19.6

Male

23.5

18.9

15.4

34.6

26.6

22.1

Female

15.7

15.3

13.7

26.4

21.8

16.7

NOTE: School months are January to May and September
to December. Summer months are June, July, and August.